Med-Surg Nurse salary: $61.19/hr median.
Across 6,089 active postings · 8 titles with data · 48 states.
Browse Med-Surg Nurse salary titles in Registered Nurse (RN), including posting volume, median pay, state coverage, and role-level comparisons.
How Med-Surg Nurse pay is distributed across the market.
10% of postings pay under $49.58. The top 10% pay above $75.90.
How Med-Surg Nurse pay has moved month over month.
Median pay moved from $61.77 in Apr 2026 to $67.00 in Oct 2026 (+8.5%). Bars show monthly posting volume; the line tracks the posting-weighted median.
Med-Surg Nurse pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 48 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
CITY PAY DATA
Unlock city-level salary data for Med-Surg Nurse Registered Nurse (RN)
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The most common job titles in Med-Surg Nurse.
These are the individual job titles that make up the Med-Surg Nurse track, ranked by active posting volume over the last 6 months.
| Role | Category · Track | Median /hr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Surgical Nurse (MedSurg) | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $57.00 | $52.50–$61.58 | 3,873 |
| Med-Surg Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $65.60 | $62.52–$77.00 | 1,756 |
| Med Surg/Telemetry Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $66.29 | $62.65–$72.92 | 445 |
| Oncology Med-Surg Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $65.00 | $65.00–$72.07 | 6 |
| Renal/Nephrology Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $62.88 | $59.69–$65.50 | 4 |
| Surgical Stepdown Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $72.00 | $68.29–$72.00 | 3 |
| Bariatric Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $38.00 | $38.00–$38.00 | 1 |
| Ortho/Neuro Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $60.94 | $60.94–$60.94 | 1 |
Highest-paying job titles in the Med-Surg Nurse track.
| Role | Category · Track | Median /hr | P25–P75 | Postings | Δ pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical Stepdown Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $72.00 | $68.29–$72.00 | 3 | — flat |
| Med Surg/Telemetry Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $66.29 | $62.65–$72.92 | 445 | ▼ 33.3% |
| Med-Surg Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $65.60 | $62.52–$77.00 | 1,756 | ▲ 47.4% |
| Oncology Med-Surg Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $65.00 | $65.00–$72.07 | 6 | — flat |
| Renal/Nephrology Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $62.88 | $59.69–$65.50 | 4 | — flat |
| Ortho/Neuro Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $60.94 | $60.94–$60.94 | 1 | — flat |
| Medical Surgical Nurse (MedSurg) | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $57.00 | $52.50–$61.58 | 3,873 | — flat |
| Bariatric Nurse | Registered Nurse (RN) · Med-Surg Nurse | $38.00 | $38.00–$38.00 | 1 | — flat |
How to become a Med-Surg Nurse.
Medical-Surgical nurses provide care to adult patients with a wide variety of medical conditions and post-surgical needs on hospital medical-surgical units.
Med-surg nursing is often the entry point for new graduate RNs. Most nurses complete BSN, pass NCLEX-RN, and start on med-surg units to build foundational skills.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree in NursingADN | 2-3 years | Entry-level nursing degree. Many med-surg units accept ADN nurses with RN-to-BSN completion plans. |
| Bachelor of Science in NursingBSN | 4 years | Preferred by most hospitals. Required for magnet facilities and leadership advancement. |
| RN-to-BSN ProgramRN-to-BSN | 1-2 years | Online completion program for ADN nurses to earn BSN while working. |
State RN license required. Must pass NCLEX-RN examination.
CPR certification required for all nursing positions.
Often required or preferred, especially on telemetry or step-down units.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| CMSRN Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Primary certification for med-surg nurses. Validates expertise in adult medical-surgical nursing. Requires 2 years and 2,000 hours of practice. | AMSN/MSNCB | +5-10% |
| RN-BC Med-Surg Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Alternative med-surg certification from ANCC. Recognized nationally. | ANCC | +5-10% |
| PCCN Progressive Care Certified Nurse For nurses on step-down or progressive care units caring for moderately ill patients. | AACN | +5-10% |
| Wound Care Certification Wound Care Certified (WCC) Valuable specialization for med-surg nurses managing complex wounds. | NAWCO | +3-8% |
- 0-1 yearsNew Graduate Med-Surg Nurse
Entry-level position on med-surg unit. Building foundational nursing skills with preceptor support.
- 1-3 yearsStaff Med-Surg Nurse
Independent practice managing 4-6 patient assignments. Growing clinical confidence.
- 3-5 yearsSenior Med-Surg Nurse / Preceptor
Mentors new nurses, serves as unit resource, may lead patient care teams.
- 5-7 yearsMed-Surg Charge Nurse
Shift leadership coordinating admissions, discharges, and staffing. CMSRN often expected.
- 7-10 yearsUnit Educator / Clinical Coach
Focuses on staff development, competency validation, and quality improvement.
- 10+ yearsNurse Manager / Director
Leadership role overseeing unit operations, budget, and staff. MSN typically required.
Schedule. Primarily 12-hour shifts (7a-7p or 7p-7a). Rotating weekends and holidays required. Some facilities offer 8-hour day shifts.
Physical demands. Physically demanding with frequent walking, standing, lifting, and patient turning. Fast-paced with multiple patient assignments (typically 4-6 patients).
Med-surg is the largest nursing specialty and serves as the foundation for most nursing careers. High demand at all experience levels. Travel med-surg positions pay $2,000-3,000+/week.